Chesterfield man lied to police about burn marks from arson

Chesterfield County, Va. (WTVR)—A man plead guilty Wednesday to setting several fires in Midlothian back in May.

The 32-year-old John Bradley Smith pleaded guilty to five felony counts of arson. The fires were set at a vacant antiques store on Midlothian Turnpike, a vacant daycare center on Village Mill Drive and three other vacant structure fires on Coalfield Road, Mistywood Road and Robious Road.

All the fires, set between May 11 and May 26, started in the rear of the buildings or in an area out of sight from the roadway.

Investigators got a break in the case on May 26 when they found burnt clothes at the scene on Robious Road. After calling area hospitals, police were led to St. Francis Hospital, where Smith had gone for treatment for second degree burns.

Lt. Jason Elmore with Chesterfield Fire says Smith told investigators that he was filling his car with gas on Midlothian Turnpike when the gas can exploded.

“After they interviewed him, they felt very confident,” Elmore says.

Using DNA, surveillance video from gas stations and GPS tracking, investigators were able to link Smith to all five blazes.

Police also found a letter on Smith’s computer that he had sent to fire officials on May 23 that said, “This fire was arson. Those responsible may have set other fires in the area too. They may continue to do so unless stopped.”